Area Sports Roundup: Glenbard West smacks Marist from ranks of unbeaten

By Jeff Vorva
Staff Writer

Two of the top eight boys volleyball teams in the country squared off April 23 and it didn’t go well for No. 4.

Marist, which came into the Brother Rice Smack Attack tournament unbeaten and ranked fourth in the nation in the USA Today/American Volleyball Coaches Association’s poll released April 22, had its 21-match winning streak halted after a 25-20, 25-16 loss to No. 8 Glenbard West.

The meeting revisited the 2019 state championship matchup, which was won by the RedHawks.

Marist (21-1) was down 8-0 right away in the first game, and that set the tone for a rough day.

As good as the the RedHawks have not cruised to the 21-0 record they had posted heading into the Smack Attack final. They have flirted with danger much of the season with several three-set wins, and tight battles in some two-set victories.

The loss will be used as a learning experience, according to outside hitter Kellen O’Keefe.

“That’s the best in the state right there,” O’Keefe said of Glenbard West. “I think it’s great that we got this loss because it will make us push ourselves even harder to do better later in the season.”

Glenbard West (17-1 after the win) played without one of its best players and still made life miserable for Marist.

“Man, I think we really need to improve,” O’Keefe said. “They were a way-better control team than us. They were great defenders, and everything that we put down they dug up, and we have to emulate that.”

St. Rita finished fourth in the 16-team tournament, losing a tight 28-26, 25-23 battle with Marist in the semifinals. Brother Rice took ninth and Reavis placed 16^th.

Area players who made the all-tournament team were Brother Rice’s Brendan McCarthy, Marist’s Brendan Schoeberl, Reavis’s Joey Para and St. Rita’s Danny Chambers.

Mother McAuley’s Bella Finnegan was named second-team all-state by the Champaign News Gazette. Photo by Jeff Vorva

All-Staters

Mother McAuley’s Bella Finnegan has been named girls basketball second-team all-state by the Champaign News Gazette.

Finnegan, who is headed to Indiana State, averaged 18.4 points and 7.1 rebounds per game as a senior.

Stagg’s Laila Barakat was named special mention.

Kira Chivers of Marist, Mia Kennelly of Oak Lawn, Charlotte Trunk of Sandburg, and Olivia Austin, Gracie Cartensen, Danielle Scully and Amalia Dray of Nazarethmade made honorable mention.

Tracking the assignments

The postseason assignments for boys and girls track are official.

In Class 3A boys, Morton is hosting a sectional that will feature Reavis, Brother Rice, Curie, Kennedy, Marist, Lyons, Oak Lawn Richards, Riverside-Brookfield and Argo in the 17-team field.

Sandburg, Shepard and Stagg will be at the 16-team Lockport Sectional.

In Class 2A, the 16-team St Rita Sectional will include Catalyst Maria, De La Salle and Mount Carmel.

Evergreen Park will head to the 15-team Kankakee Sectional.

St. Laurence, Solorio and Nazareth Academy are at the Fenwick Sectional.

In Class 1A, Chicago Christian heads to the 20-team Seneca Sectional.

In Class 3A girls, the 17-team Proviso East Sectional will include Morton, Reavis, Curie, Kennedy, Marist, Mother McAuley, Oak Lawn, Richards, Shepard, Riverside-Brookfield and Argo.

Lyons, Sandburg and Stagg will part in a 15-team sectional that does not yet have a host school.

In Class 2A, De La Salle hosts a 15-teram meet that features Catalyst Maria.

The 15-team Glenbard South Sectional features St. Laurence, Solorio Academy and Nazareth Academy. Evergreen Park will be at the 15-team Kankakee Sectional.

In Class 1A, Chicago Christian is at the 19-team Seneca Sectional.